Guinea pigs were domesticated approximately 3,000 to 6,000 years ago.
As reported by ADVICE.NEWS , they probably originated from wild guinea pigs (Cavia aperea).
How Guinea Pigs Came to Be
The domestic guinea pigs we know today are the result of crossing several wild species.
They differ from wild rodents by the absence of a tail. This is one of the first domesticated animals, which is distinguished by its unpretentiousness and fertility.
Why Guinea Pigs Were Domesticated
Beginning in the 14th century, the Incas, who lived on the slopes of the Andes, were the first to domesticate guinea pigs.
Now this territory is Peru, Colombia, Bolivia and Ecuador.
The Incas used pigs as a source of tasty dietary meat.
How Guinea Pigs Spread Around the World
They were brought to Europe by the Spaniards in the mid-16th century.
Wild guinea pigs are commonly found in South America and inhabit savannas, shrublands, and the Andean highlands.
Polish archaeologists discovered a fragment of the lower jaw of a guinea pig (Cavia porcelus) during excavations at Ojcow Castle, located near Krakow.
The context of this find and the results of radiocarbon dating showed that this domestic animal lived in the 16th or 17th century.
